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Daredevils have jumped from
the world's tallest building after Malaysia opened a
parachuting contest at its landmark Petronas Twin Towers,
despite two crashes that dogged last year's event.
A record 70 people from 16 countries are in Kuala Lumpur
for a chance to BASE jump -- parachute from a fixed object
instead of an airplane -- an activity driven underground
in most countries for legal reasons.
BASE stands for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth.
Onlookers craned their necks on Saturday to watch jumpers
plummet from near the top of the 88-storey, 1,483-foot
(452-metre) Tower 2, freefall for four to six seconds,
then steer toward a 25-foot (7.6-metre) target on a patch
of grass next to a lake.
"This is the tallest
building and the most challenging object in the world,"
said Jim Surber, who hails from Kansas City and says he is
a veteran of "dozens" of jumps.
"Every jump is totally new, it's always scary. We are all
nervous about a jump," he said after a practice session.
"But once you've done it, you will feel better. |
A skydiver floats downwards
after jumping from the world's tallest building, the
Petronas Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur, on December 28,
2002. |
"I have jumped off cliffs and bridges in the U.S. but this
is the best man-made object and we have among the group
some of the best BASE jumpers in the world," he said.
Last year, a Dutch diver broke his leg when he hit the
Petronas building and crashed onto the roof of a shopping
mall after his parachute twisted on opening.
Another jumper hit the wall of the towers but he spun off
and landed safely.
Last year's winner, Johnny Winklekotter, a 33-year-old
skydiver from Salt Lake City with 6,000 jumps under his
belt, is back this year to defend his title.
One of the highlights of the week-long event is an
exhibition jump involving 10 divers at midnight on
December 31 to usher in the New Year.
The jumpers, from Europe, North America, Australia and
Japan, have to sign forms indemnifying Petronas in case of
accidents.
In most countries a waiver cannot protect owners from
legal action so divers leap at night and flee when they
land.
"BASE can be a dangerous sport and if not approached in
the correct manner can result in serious injury or death,"
warns
www.basejumper.org.
"Margins of error are small."
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